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Fallon To Open Office In London With Or Without Lee Account

Moving ahead with its longtime plan to expand internationally, Fallon McElligott intends to open an office in London by the summer. The Minneapolis agency had expressed such an intention a year ago [Adweek, April 7, 1997], and earlier this year suggested launching a London office would be tied to winning the multinational ad account for U.S. client Lee Apparel Co. that it has been pitching. But agency representative Janet Northen said the London move is no longer dependent on a specific account. “We’re going to open regardless,” she said. “It would be nice to have [the Lee account], but it’s not tied to that.” Northen would not confirm published reports that Fallon is already in the process of hiring executives from London agencies to form its management team, saying only that it is looking at a number of people as possible hires. Sources said it is likely Fallon’s office will be managed by British executives rather than imports from its U.S. operations. Agency chairman Pat Fallon could not be reached for comment. He has repeatedly maintained the agency can grow internationally without having to become part of a global agency network.